Would things be different today if not for the Malleus Maleficarum supported by a Papal Bull, other wise known as the Catholic Inquisition

Between 1487 and 1520 over 5 million women were put to death for a myrid of reasons by the catholic church. Prior to this there was a balance of the male and female Isis the left and Amon the right. This was a purge of the materical and the advent of the patericial exclusive. Women were excluded from any leadersip positions and the left was thereafter considered bad and the right was considered good.

This one simple act by the church left women out of any equality for over 500 years and is still having a impact.

Would things have developed differently had women remained equals and the balance maintained between Isis and Amon ... the left and the right.

May 17 2013:
Good heavens! This is a"When did you stop beating your wife" question There is not a SHRED of real scholarly evidence that the Catholic Church killed 5 million people in 33 years!! Not even radical leftist feminist historians (and I count some among my friends) believe this! In fact once the archives were open, it turns out that over almost FOUR CENTURIES fewer people died (and put to death by civil governments like Spain's, not the Church) --- namely around 3,500 - than Stalin regularly dispatched before brunch!

Yes, there was a crazy woman who claimed this, and it got spread over the internet, but for heaven's sake, the Dominicans said no one could be persecuted as a witch because there were NO SUCH THING AS WITCHES. If anything, say those say feminist scholars, it was Northern PROTESTANTS in places like Germany that killed people as witches. Take off the tinfoil hat and do some SERIOUS research. Honestly, PT Barnum (or whoever said it) was right - you'll never go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.

Apr 28 2013:
This question assumes that Catholic dogmas have more influence that they actually have had, in the long run. Christianity , historically, is a rather primitve view of the Universe, and how it works. It was all based on cultural ideas of the early kingdoms of what became the "Western" world, and was able to more or less ignore other views, such as the Hindus, because of the dramatic success of western Inperialism, over the last 500 yeaars or so. Now that is waning, and the success of Science as a world view more or less dooms the Judeo Christian idea of how the Universe actually works. Going back to basics, the Hindus and Buddhists have more science friendly concepts, since they rely on experience, and less dogmatice axioms. I.e., no Personal God , no Salvation, no Sin and Evil, etc. All concepts which are not at all helpful in the real world. Jesuits, for example , can hardly be distiniuished from Zen Buddhists, except for some rituallistic observances.

Apr 22 2013:
Personally I believe that all through the ages (right from the start?) , women have been regarded as second class 'citizens,' as based on how revelation was interpreted or passed on. Adam and Eve is one example.

What Revelation does, it uses normal human situations to portray spiritual aspects. Just as Jesus 'did not talk to people without using parables.'

We have a will and an understanding/intellect. The first expression of that is Adam and Eve. Adam being the intellect and Eve being the will. Nowadays we have accepted that the will is not in charge but is under control of the influence of the intellect. It better be, because we cannot go around just doing what we want.
That being said, we are what we want, or will, or love.

To me that means the state of humanity is represented or portrayed by how women are. Which I think put us in a better position than men have. Are not men usually the bombers, the rapers, the bank robbers etc.? That's why I think a good women is better than a good man. But also, because of the connection of women and the will, a bad woman is worse than a bad man.
Just a thought.

Apr 22 2013:
That was a long time ago - The fabric of history has returned to its normal pattern. Also, i don't believe such things were coherent - The Salem witch trials by the Puritans were real estate grabs and the settleing of old scores.

Apr 21 2013:
Robert, I am not understanding the thread of this. I think of Isis and Amon as Egyptian deities. Further, issues in the balance of women's and men's roles rear their heads in cultures that predate Christianity.

Do you have a favorite link for those of us who need some background before we can consider your question thoughtfully?

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